Automatic hatch cover and plug manipulator



-March 12, 1935. w. L. PERKINS AUTOMATIC HATCH COVER AND PLUG MANIPULATOR Fil ed Nov. 21, 1955 2 sheets-sh et 1 ins Q Wl hPe/"l arch 12, 1935. w PERK N 1,994,402

AUTOMATIC HATCH COVER AND PLUG MANIPULATOR Filed Nov. 21, 1935 2=Sheets-Sheet 2 Parzfls UNITED An'roivm'rrc HATCH oovEa AND PLU MANIPULAT R V 1 William L. Perkins, Montrose, 0610. Application November 21, 1933 Serial No. 699,058

2 Claims. (Cl. 268-) This invention relates to freight car ventilating devices and more particularly to a means for automatically ventilating freight cars of the refrigerator type.

An'object of this invention is to provide a means in the form of an attachment to be placed on freight cars whereby the hatch covers and plugs will be automatically manipulated into either open or closed position depending on the temperature of the atmosphere either on the inside or the outside of the car.

Another object of this invention is to provide an attachment of this characterwhich can be readily mounted on the present parts of the freight cars withoutdisturbing the present .parts which is operated automaticallythereby eliminating the necessity of a person changingvthe position of the hatch cover and plug depending on the temperature of the atmosphere on either the outside or the inside of the car.

The above and various other objects; and advantages of this invention will in part be described and in part be understood from the foregoing detailed description of the. present preferred embodiment, the same being illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:-

Figure 1 is a detail end elevation of a refrigerator car having a device constructed according to the embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of one end of the car. 7

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing the cover and plug in upraised position.

Figure 5 is a sectional View taken on the line 55 of Figure 4.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 10 designates generally the body of a freight car of the refrigerator type, and the numeral 11 designates a plug or hatch cover which is hinged, as at 13, to the top or roof 12 of the car body 10. The car body 10 is provided with a pair of plugs orcovers 11 adjacent each end thereof, there being one plug or cover on each side of the runway or walk 14 disposed on the roof 12. a

In cars at present in use, these plugs or covers 11 are opened and closed manually in order to comply with the regulations relating to the ventilation of the car body 10. In order to provide a means automatically operable whereby the plug and cover 11 is manipulated into either opened or closed position dependent upon the atmosphere exteriorly or interiorly of the car 10, I have provided a cylinder 15 which has a piston 16 slidable therein. The cylinder 15 is closed at each end and the piston 16 has a connecting rod 17 secured-theretdwhich extends through thelower endl18 ofthe cylinder 15. The connecting rod 17 is provided with a bore 19 extending longitudinally therethrough and in like manner, the piston 16 has a bore or hole 20 communicating with the bore 19 and discharging into the upper portion of the cylinder 15.

The cylinder 15 is provided at a point adjacent the lower end thereof and on the outside with an outstanding lug 21 which. 'is adapted to be disposed between a'pair of ears 22 carried by an angular bracket 23 mounted on the top of the cover 11. This bracket 23 has one leg 24 thereof secured as by bolts 25 to the top of the cover or plug 11 and the other leg 26 extends upwardly and is provided with the pair of cars 22. A pin 27extends through the ears 22 and the lug 21 so as to mount the'cylinder 15 for rocking movement on the bracket 23.

A pair of upstanding lugs 28 are adapted to be mcunted'in upstanding position on the roof 12 adjacent the plug and cover. 11, and a hollow. shaft or rock member 29 is journaled in these lugs 28 and is secured to the outer end of the connecting rod 17 and the bore 19 of the rod 1'7 communicates with the interior of the hollow shaft 29. The shaft 29 is connected to the air pressure system of the car 10 by means of a pipe line 30 which, in the present instance, extends vertically along one end of the body 10 and at V a point adjacent the top thereof is provided with suitablebranches extending on each side of the runway 14. These branches 31, in the present instance, are preferably constructed of flexible material so that the branches 31 will permit the shaft 29 ,to have a slight rocking movement Without leakage of the air pressure therein.

A check valve 32, which is here shown diagrammatically, is interposed in the air pressure line 30 at a suitable point and is provided in order that when the freight car is cut off of a string of cars and the air line disconnected, the pressure in the pipe line 30 will not immediately permit closing of the plug and cover 11.

A manually operable valve 33 is also interposed in the pipe line 30 so that when desired, the air pressure can be either cut off or turned on man-' ually. A thermostatically controlled valve operating member 34 is also interposed in the pipe line 30 at a point between the manually operable valve 33 and the branches 31. This valve operating member 34 is of conventional construction and is here shown only diagrammatically. The purpose of this valve operating member 34 is to either cut ofi or turn on the pressure of air in the line 30 dependent on the temperature of the atmosphere outside of the car body 10.

It will, of course, be understood that while I have shown the valve operating member 734 on the outside of the body 10, this valve operating member can be mounted on the inside of the car and, if desired, two of these valve operating members may be used one on the inside and one on the outside which will operate the plug 11 when the atmosphere on either the inside or the outside reaches a predetermined degree. I

In the use and. operation of the attachment in plug manipulator herein disclosed, the manually operable valve 33 is initially opened after the car body 10 has been connected to the train nd the normal air pre su mainta ned in; he air brake system, When the temperature of the atmosphere on the utside of the car reaches av predetermined degree of warmth, the valve operating member 34 will Ice-actuated in a manner to permit the cover 11 to gravitatingly swing downwardly and move the cylinder 15 downwardly. However, when it is desired to ventilatethe interior of the car or the atmosphere on the outside of the car is lowered to a predetermined degree, the valve operating member '34 will open the pipe line 30 to. permit the air pressure to enter the branches, 31 and pass through the connecting rods 17 of each piston 16 and from this point, the air under pressure will pass through the opening 20 in the piston 16 andiforce'the cylinder 15 upwardly, which movement of the cylinder 15 will raise the cover or plug 11. The rocking movement of the cylinder 15 and'the connecting rod-1'7 is accomplished by reason of therock shaft 29 and the mountings28 therefor which are disposed on the roof of the 'car 12.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that an exceedingly simple attachment in theform of. a cover and plug manipulator has been provided which can be mounted on the; present parts of the refrigerator car, it being only necessary to remove from the car the manually operable cover and plug manipulators which are at present on the car. 7

It is, of course, understood that various changes-and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this inven-' tion without departing froml the spirit thereof, 1

such changes and modifications being irestricted' only by the scope of the following claims, f

What is claimed is:

1. Operating means for a vertically swingable' hatch cover for arre frigerator car, comprising a cylinder, a bracket secured to the cover, means for swingably connecting the bracket with the cylinder, a piston slidable in'the cylinder and having an opening therethrough, a connecting rod secured to the piston and extending out-' ,wardly of an end of the cylinder, said connect-' ing rod having a bore communicating with the penin he pist n, a laterally extendin ho 0W shaft se red to the lower end f the piston; means- Iiorrqckably mo n ing aid shaf ijon; he

body of the car, and a flexible connectingmeans ecured at; n end. to aid s aft and attheother end to a source of ressuresupplyn;

2. Operating means, for a VerticaIlY' s ingaQL hatch cover for a refrigerator ear-, comprising a; ylinder, a. bracket secured to he cover means. for. swingablyconneeting the bracket with the cylinder, a piston. Slidabl'e in the cylinder endi having an. opening therethroueh, a connectin rod secured to the piston and extendingr outr War y of. an. end of the cylinder, said comiectlmg 5. ing in the piston, a laterally extending-hollow rod having a bore communicating with'the' open-.-

shaft secured to the lower end of the piston; means for rockably mounting. saidis'haft on the. body of the car, a flexibl'econnectingmeans se cured at one end to sai'd'sha-itand ,at the other! end to a'source of pressure supply," and, automat ically operated meansi'nt'erposedin said source of supply to discharge thepressure in Said Cyfi Il'" der whereby saidcover will to closed position.

WI LLIAMQ Q PE KIN gravitatingly move I 

